This week in Island history

The news of 10 and 15 years ago is from the JamestownPress. The news of 100 years ago came from the collection ofthe Newport Historical Society.

100 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, March 30, 1908

The east harbor has grown in favor the past few years as an anchoring place for barges, especially light ones. Yesterday at one time there were 15 heavily laden ones anchored there.

From the Newport Daily News, April 1, 1908

Today's town meeting for the selection of town officers is one of the quietest ever known, there being no opposition to the Republican nominees. At noon only 30 of the 347 qualified voters had cast their ballots and only two or three people are to be seen, besides the supervisors, in or near the voting place.

From the Newport Daily News, April 6, 1908

At the annual financial town meeting held Saturday in the town hall (some of the issues were as follows): That some of the street lights be eliminated from October 1 to June 1, passed. That the town council appoint 10 special police to serve without pay except when called upon to act, passed. That the bounty on crows' heads be discontinued, passed. That an appropriation of $500 be made for police services, passed. That dustoline be used on two miles of the stone road, not passed.

75 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, April 4, 1933

Samuel W. Smith Jr., Jamestown florist, was appointed Monday by Governor Theodore Francis Green to represent Rhode Island at a White House conference in Washington which will formulate plans for carrying out President Roosevelt's re-forestation program.

The petition of Amos L. Peckham, and signed by many residents and tax payers, that out of town peddlers be prohibited from doing business on the island was received (by the Town Council) and granted.

From the Newport Daily News, April 5, 1933

An audience of about 200 was present at a moving picture show sponsored by the Park & Pollard Co., manufacturers of poultry feeds, at the Holy Ghost hall Monday evening, and was given under the auspices of James T. O'Connell. A member of the faculty of the Rhode State College Agricultural Department was present and gave an interesting and informative talk on poultry raising. Following the demonstration a series of interesting movies was shown.

From the Newport Daily News, April 6, 1933

A record vote was cast at the annual election in Jamestown Wednesday, 796, with 230 straight Republican and 216 straight Democrat ballots and an unusually large number of split ballots, which made tabulation difficult. Democrats and Republicans divided honors in the results, and several new officers were elected.

From the Newport Daily News, April 7, 1933

The East Side Athletics and the West Ferry Tigers will cross bats Saturday morning at 10:30 o'clock on the Thomas H. Clarke school grounds.

50 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, April 1, 1958

Ground for a museum to honor deceased firemen will be broken Thursday night at the Jamestown fire station on Narragansett Avenue by members of the volunteer fire department. … The museum, designed by Chief (Merton C.) Hull, will be 20-by 16-feet, of shingle exterior with a 14-foot colonial window facing Narragansett Avenue and a similar window of smaller size facing Coronado Street. It will be built by members of the department at no taxpayer expense. From the Newport Daily News,April 2, 1958

The ferryboats purchased from the state of Virginia are officially being renamed Newport and Jamestown at the suggestion of Gov. Dennis J. Roberts. They will be in operation late this month or early in May between Newport and Jamestown. From the Newport Daily News,April 5, 1958

A sixth delaying amendment was filed yesterday with the Securities & Exchange Commission by the Commerce Oil Refining Corp., thus pushing back for 20 days the date for public financial registration of the firm's proposed $55,000,000 plant in Jamestown.

25 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News,April 5, 1983

It may soon be easier for residents and visitors alike to find their way around Conanicut Island. The Council Monday night sent a proposed ordinance calling for the uniform numbering of all buildings in town to the town solicitor. Three Fire Department members and the postmaster drew up the proposed ordinance based on similar ones in other communities. From the Newport Daily News,April 8, 1983

Voters may be asked to approve a statewide bond issue next fall that would include about $18 million for the state's share of construction costs for the new Jamestown Bridge the state must pick up 20 percent of the estimated $65 million bridge project.

15 years agoFrom the Jamestown Press,April 1, 1993

The Town Council Monday moved closer to adopting a 24-hour animal control ordinance that would replace the existing 7 to 11 a.m. leash law. After two hours of discussion, the council directed veterinarian Dr. Jack Civic, Police Chief Thomas Tighe, dog officer Jack Albaugh, and Town Solicitor James Donnelly to draft a new ordinance that would require dog owners to have their pets under control but not necessarily on a leash at all times.

Jamestown Community Theatre director Mary S. Wright said this week that tickets are almost sold out for this weekend's production of "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

10 years agoFrom the Jamestown Press,April 2, 1998

Some but not all of the town water customers will see some big increases in costs up to 70 percent when they get their water bills for the May, June, July billing quarter.

The proposal to develop a megaport at Quonset/Davisville may require blasting to dredge the Narragansett Bay shipping channel north of Jamestown.